Kitchen Aids - Then and Now

What's It Wednesday #42

We kitchen divas love our gadgets. Kitchen appliances and various aids just makes life a bit easier when it comes to entertaining and daily food preparation. I love my electric teapot. When I use to see them on my favorite British television soap opera (Eastenders) many years ago, I could not wait for them to start selling in the U.S. As an avid tea drinker, it was on top of my list of "must haves".

However, once in while I do miss the whistle from the stove top kettle. It just brings back such found memories.

The Kitchen divas of yore, like my great-grandmother Helen, also sported the latest teapots of their day. Helen loved her gadgets and always kept up with the latest trends in what ever was new fangled for the house. I don't actually use her teapot but I do keep it on display in the kitchen along with some of her other goodies and my grandmother's as well.

The children of today don't know anything about how we got ice before they were miraculous placed in the doors of refrigerators. I actually don't care to use ice makers at all. 

Does anyone, other than me, remember this doohickey? First of all, this was a fun way to get ice and secondly, I have to tell you, for some reason ice tasted so much better coming out of this metal tray. Your cool drink took on a completely different personality with these marvelous ice cubes they yielded. I am so glad I kept my grandmother's ice trays. Beside, they are kind of cute.

Nowadays, a four slice toaster is common place and makes toasting quite convenient. As much as we pay for a "good" toaster  these days, it could never take the place of the toasters of yesteryear.

The best part of my grandmother's Sears and Roebuck toaster was that the toast would fly up, quite high, from the toaster. I would peer slightly over the counter waiting for the toast to fly. It is my understanding that the  adults didn't particularly care for flying toast. Now we have expensive boring toasters. 

I am not much of a baker, but I do use my mixer mostly for kneading East Indian flat breads called rotis. This includes parathas, chapatis, and my all time favorite, naan. 

My mother tells me that my great-aunt used this mixer to make the most delicious cakes, cookies, pies, and breads. My grand-mother had a large pink sunbeam mixer and I could not wait to lick the homemade cake batter from the bowl and the beaters. 

It is my understanding that when this mixer came out, having 10 or 12-speeds was a major plus in a kitchen appliance. 

Music is a major part of my cooking routine. I tend to play classical musical during breakfast and jazz pretty much anytime. I love foreign music as well. Boleros when cooking Cuban food, Zen music when cooking Thai, Chinese, or Japanese cuisine, Bhangra when preparing East Indian dishes, and Ska when cooking a down home Caribbean meal. 

My fondest memories of Helen was of her singing along to her Admiral radio in her amazing kitchen. Sometimes she would even stop and dance a bit as she would twirl me around. Music was an essential part of her food preparation. Now, it is mine as well. 

Ok Kitchen Divas, what are some Kitchen Aids that you remember growing up?

xoxoxo

Paula

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 Thank you all for all that you do to inspire others! I know I am inspired each and every week by each and every one of you. 

Here are this week's fabulous features.

Janet from The Decorating Diaries created this beautiful french door from a cabinet door she found.

Helen from Helen's Decor struck gold with this Chippendale find. 

Just get ready to fall in love with Shannon's enamelware at
 Southern Belle with Northern Roots

Laurie's Turkish prayer rug was a major score at Heaven's Walk

Lee Caroline features these wonderful upcycled lightbulbs at A world of Inspiration

Go on a relaxing tour of a beautiful sleeping porch while visiting At Home on the Bay

Ok fabulous people it's your turn.